You Probably Shouldn’t Hold Your Breath For A Ghostbusters Sequel
When the all-lady reboot of Ghostbusters was released last month, it didn’t pull in Suicide Squad numbers, but it didn’t do Nine Lives numbers either. It brought in $46 million on its opening weekend, and has proceeded to make more than $180 million worldwide. Shortly after the opening weekend numbers were added up, Sony’s president of worldwide marketing and distribution announced that it was the “restart” of a brand relaunch. I was already bracing myself for Ghostbusters 2: Electric BOO-galoo and Ghosbusters 3: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Slimer. I can stop though, because The Hollywood Reporter says it won’t get a sequel.
$180 million seems like a lot, but Sony considers that figure to be the financial equivalent of the losing horn sound from The Price is Right. Ghostbusters had a production budget of $144 million and Sony spent a lot more money on marketing. Sony reportedly estimated that in order to break even, Ghostbusters would need to make $300 million at the box office. They’re not confident that it will crack the $225 million mark, even after it’s released in additional countries, like France and Japan. THR says that Sony is preparing for a loss of $70 million or more.
However, Sony thinks those numbers are a little sketchy and a rep tells THR that the loss isn’t going to be nearly as drastic as what is being reported. According to Sony, there’s been a whole lot of interest in the Ghostbusters brand. They claim that tons of people have been renting the original 1984 film over the summer. They also predict they’ll pull in lots of cash from Ghostbusters merchandising and attractions, like an exhibit at Madame Tussauds. But they won’t confirm whether or not a sequel will happen.
You know what? The only reason I’d want to see a sequel would be for more of Kate McKinnon being Kate McKinnon on science nerd meth or Chris Hemsworth’s hot dummy Kevin. Everyone is always complaining that Hollywood has run out of new ideas, so instead of making a sequel, just write a movie called Kate and Chris’ Characters from Ghostbusters Do Stuff. I don’t even need a plot, just follow their asses around for two hours. I’d happily pay $15 for that.
Besides, we don’t need a not-as-good-as-the-first obvious cash-grab sequel to Ghostbusters. We already have one, it’s called Ghostbusters 2.
Pic: Splash